Objective: To use a search coil and a CRO to investigate the magnetic fields generated by alternating currents through a straight wire and a slinky solenoid.

Extracts from this document...

Introduction

Physics Lab Report – C15

Title: Investigation of magnetic fields by search coil

Objective:

To use a search coil and a CRO to investigate the magnetic fields generated by alternating currents through a straight wire and a slinky solenoid.

Apparatus:

Search coil 1

Slinky solenoid 1

CRO 1

Slotted bases 2

Signal generator 1

Metre rule 1

a.c. ammeter 1

Crocodile clips 2

PVC-covered copper wire 26 s.w.g. 1 m long

Connecting leads. 2

Theory:

When there is a change of the magnetic flux Φ linked with a wire loop, it induces an electromotive force (emf) ε between the loop ends, but a constant magnetic flux or a non-linked flux does not. This is the basic fact of electromagnetic induction, expressed by Faraday’s law for a wire loop,

ε = －dΦ/dt

The induced emf, ε is equal to the negative rate of change of the magnetic flux Φ linked with the loop. If we replace the wire loop by a short coil of N turns, the induced voltage is N times that of a single loop, so Faraday’s law becomes ε = －NdΦ/dt

When loop ends are connected, ε produces a current which yields its own magnetic field. Its direction always opposes the flux change dΦ/dt. This fact is known as Lenz’s law and is expressed by the negative sign.

12. The search coil was placed at the centre of the solenoid. Make sure that the search coil was perpendicular to the solenoid. The variation of induced e.m.f. was shown on the CRO.

13. Step 12 was repeated with placing the search coil at the end of the solenoid, across its cross-section and along its length.

14. The search coil was placed at the centre of the solenoid again. The time base of the CRO was switched off. The length of the vertical trace shown on the CRO was recorded, which represents the induced peak-to-peak e.m.f.(V) in the search coil and also the magnetic field around the solenoid.

15. Step 14 was repeated with the other values of currents (I) from the signal generator in steps of 0.1A. The results were tabulated.

16. A graph of the induced e.m.f.(V) against the current (I) was plotted.

17. Step 14 was repeated with the other stretched lengths (l) of the solenoid. The space between coils must be even. The results were tabulated.

18. A graph of the induced e.m.f.(V) against the reciprocal of the stretched length of the solenoid(1/l ) was plotted.

Results

A. Magnetic field around straight wire

Current I/A

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

Induced e.m.f.(V)/mV

0

0.5

1

1.6

2.4

4.1

Distance (r) / cm

1

2

3

4

5

1/r /cm

1.00

0.50

0.33

0.25

0.20

Induced e.m.f.(V)/ mV

4.2

3.2

2.6

2.3

2

The sensitivity of the search coil can be increased by increasing the frequency.

B. Magnetic field around slinky solenoid

When placing the search coil at the centre of the solenoid, across its cross-section, the induced e.m.f. shown on the CRO, i.e. the length of the vertical trace is the maximum, that means the magnetic field of the straight wire is the maximum.

When placing the search coil at the end of the solenoid, across its cross-section, the induced e.m.f. shown on the CRO, i.e. the length of the vertical trace is nearly half that at the centre of the solenoid, that means the magnetic field of the straight wire is nearly half that at the centre of the solenoid.

When placing the search coil along the length of the solenoid, the induced e.m.f. shown on the CRO is quite uniform except near its two ends.

To avoid disturbance, the set-up should be significantly distant from the return leads and other apparatus. The space between coils is nearly even. The search coil is nearly at right angles to the straight wire and the solenoid Therefore, the experiment can be improved.

5. Reason for the sensitivity of the search coil can be increased by increasing the frequency.

First of all, the search coil detects a varying B-field through the current induced in it which is:

From the deduction, we can see that with A and B0 held constant, which are the area of search coil and the peak value of the varying B-field respectively, the rate of change of magnetic flux Φ increases with increasing ω which is the angular frequency with value 2πf, where f is the frequency of the B-field.

6. The Earth’s field can be ignored because it is a steady magnetic field.

Conclusion

The magnetic field around a long straight wire carrying a current is directly proportional to the current (I) and inversely proportional to the distance(r) from the wire. The magnetic field inside the solenoid carrying a current is directly proportional to the current (I) and the number of turns (N) but inversely proportional to the length (l ) of the solenoid.

Related AS and A Level Electrical & Thermal Physics essays

The time base of the CRO was switched off. The length of the vertical trace shown on the CRO was recorded, which represented the induced peak-to-peak e.m.f. (?) in the copper coil. 5. Steps 3 to 4 were repeated with the other values of the frequencies (f) of the signal generator to 6 kHz in steps of 1 kHz.

This also suggests that my hypothesis was correct and as the length of the nichrome wire increases, the resistivity also increased. My graph also suggests that the length is directly proportional the length. 1) The cross sectional area of the wire Radius: 0.3 x 10-3 � 2 = 1.5 x 10-4 m ?

When choosing the wire I used a Micrometer to ensure that I had the correct thickness of wire and that it was reasonably accurate thickness of wire. The micrometer measures to the .00 mm to ensure precise accuracy at very small thicknesses.

The graph has to be drawn after the readings have been taken. I+ Amps (A) V+ (volts - v) Light Dependant Resistor The circuit will remain the same. Only the light intensity changes. This means that at one time the circuit will be placed in the dark or a dimly

I will also compare where the curves peak; at what distance does the curve peak (earliest/latest) in relation to the load resistance. Method: The following method was used to gain the data I need to process. Knowing how the data was collected will help me ascertain where errors may have occurred and how they may have been prevented.

range of readings available to be taken with the apparatus that I was given. The graph was not what we had expected; I was expecting to be drawing a straight-line graph. We thought that they would line up straight away.

Air resistance is neglect 2. The friction is evenly distributed on any surface of the sand paper (i.e. the friction should be the same over the whole sand paper.) 3. The wooden block is moving in constant velocity. 4. The mass of the rubber band is neglect.